Latest in Lakota Language Consortium News

New Lakota podcast being developed

Ben Black Bear and Marcel Bull Bear have a conversation for a new podcast

If you were at the Lakota Nation Invitational December 2019 in Rapid City, you might have seen Shania Black Bear Searby and Allen Wilson interviewing elders (or been interviewed yourself). Shania and Allen are currently working on developing a podcast that will help tell the story of Lakota elders and their relationship to the language.

Shania asked interviewees about their hope for the Lakota language and revitalization efforts as well as what they feel is needed to help in these efforts. The podcast will feature the personal narratives of these elders, including stories told in Lakota. It will also highlight efforts for language revitalization happening on the community level. This is a bilingual effort for both speakers and learners alike to increase their love for the language.
The podcast is still in development, and a website is expected this summer. Shania and Allen are still looking for interviewees to tell their stories and/or share their language revitalization efforts! Email shania@lakota.org or allen@lakhota.org to schedule an interview. Follow Lakota Language Consortium on Facebook to stay up to date on its release.

Survey shows Lakota Berenstain Bears impact

When Stan and Jan Berenstain created The Berenstain Bears in 1962, they probably had no idea that their cartoon bears would one day help revitalize an indigenous language. When the Lakota Language Consortium and the Standing Rock Sioux tribe wanted to bring a family-friendly Lakota program to viewers’ televisions, The Berenstain Bears cartoon was the perfect fit. With the permission of Berenstain Enterprises, Inc., the organizations worked together to gather native speakers to dub the original audio with the Lakota language. Thus, the Lakota Berenstain Bears (Matȟó Waúŋšila Thiwáhe) was created as a modern immersive Lakota program.
The Lakota Berenstain Bears has served as a resource for Lakota language learners both young and old. Recently, TLC reached out to viewers of the cartoon to get an idea of how they were using the Lakota Berenstain Bears for their own learning or to help teach others.
Around 65% of survey participants used the videos as learners, with 27% using them as a teaching tool for their children, and 8% using them in the classroom as teachers.
Here’s some testimonials from those who used the videos as learners:
“I found it very refreshing and new. It’s a cartoon for kids, but I was amazed by how happy I felt watching it and hearing Lakota being spoken in something I grew up watching in English.”
“I used the show to learn more vocabulary. It also helped with my intonation and learning the rhythm of the language better.”
One viewer said that the show has served as a bonding experience with her mother who is a fluent Lakota speaker. Multiple viewers responded that being able to comprehend what the characters are saying gives them a sense of accomplishment.
Multiple parents told us about how they used the cartoon in their house to let their children be fully immersed in their language.
“My son loves the show. He […] will sit and watch Lakota version all day. It reminds him of his grandparents who speak Lakȟótiyapi to him.”
Teachers told us that they use the show in their classroom, sometimes having students write down words that they recognize as they watch the show. Some teachers used the written script as a tool to have students follow along with the episode.
Each survey participant wanted to see more episodes produced.
TLC wanted to know what native speakers thought the value of resources like these are. One participant summarized why the Lakota Berenstain Bears is so important for them:
“This is one of the most effective and simple ways for me to make sure Lakȟótiyapi is being heard and spoken in my home every day, even when we’re really busy. I can always count on it. I have a rule that my daughter isn’t allowed to watch mindless cartoons so this is one of the only shows she is allowed to watch and it’s important to all of us. I live in Phoenix so I cannot take her to immersion school. I need this as a resource.”
You can learn more about the Lakota Berenstain Bears here: https://www.lakotabears.com/

March Owóksape 1.6 update coming soon!

Download the Owóksape app on the Apple or Google Play stores

The Owóksape app is being updated to continue improving the language learning app. Updates will include user-interface improvements, multiple audio tracks featuring male and female voices, forum layout improvements, social share features, as well as optimizations for the loading of the Leaderboard and Path features.
The next release will contain a beginner vocabulary track containing 56 new units and over 2,000 words. Follow The Language Conservancy on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on all the Owóksape news.

Apply now for summer Language Warrior Internship

Are you interested in revitalizing indigenous languages? Do you want to learn the tools of the trade from one of the leading language conservation organizations in the country?
The Language Conservancy is now offering two paid internships for this summer. This internship offers the opportunity to gain experience within all departments of TLC, including IT, linguistics, PR, graphic design, events planning, grant writing, customer support, shipping/sales, and bookkeeping. Housing and travel stipend provided.
To be eligible, you must be at least 19 years of age, a current student, and an enrolled indigenous community member. Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to heike@lakhota.org. Deadline to apply April 15.

Upcoming events

March 8–NYU Language Meetup

The Lakȟóta Language Class’s semester is underway! The next Language Meetup will be on March 8 on the NYU campus. More information can be found here: https://lakhotanyc.com/

April 4-5–NYU Lakota Language Weekend

The next Lakota Language Weekend at NYU will be April 4-5. This serves as a great introduction to learning the Lakota language and no prior experience with the language is required. Register here: https://bit.ly/2TmEI2l

June 1-12–Lakota Summer Institute South

SAVE THE DATE! The Lakota Summer Institute South will take place from June 1-12 at Oglala Lakota College. It will offer courses for residents of Pine Ridge. More information and registration here: https://bit.ly/2PosqnU

July 6-24–Lakota Summer Institute North

SAVE THE DATE! Lakota Summer Institute-North will be held July 6-24 at University of North Dakota. Registration is live here: https://bit.ly/2HVBYTb.

Scholarship for Lakota Summer Institute North

New York indigenous residents between ages 18-24 are eligible for a scholarship for Lakota Summer Institute-North. Apply here: https://bit.ly/37YWblJ.